Bethlehem, Etzion DCL, Tue 8.12.09, Morning
07:00 AM, Bethlehem - Checkpoint 300: there are many workers onthe road to the checkpoint, who greet us with a “good morning” and tell us it’sa good day today. The queues flowthrough the checkpoint, there are no security-company guards and everythinggoes smoothly. The reported waiting times to pass through the checkpoint varybetween twenty minutes to 1 ½ hours, and up to twenty minutes for the women.
07:50 AM: As we leave the checkpoint;the traffic on the way to Etzion DCL flows freely and there is little trafficin both directions.
08:00 AM, Etzion DCL: thereare very few people waiting outside the DCL. It opened with a slight delay, but there is a pleasant atmosphereand everything is conducted politely. Thewaiting room is heated and pleasant compared with the freezing cold we feltwhile waitng outside for the doors to be opened.
08:30 AM: we leave the DCL. Someof the applicants have already been processed and the rest are waiting theirturn. The queueing order is organized according to the list prepared by thewaiting Palestinians.